June 18, 2016

Highlighted Year: Horace Gillom, 1951

End/Punter, Cleveland
Browns

Age: 30

5th
season in pro football & with Browns

College: Nevada-Reno

Height: 6’1”Weight: 220

Prelude:

Gillom
starred at Massillon, Ohio’s Washington High School under Head Coach Paul Brown
and followed his coach to Ohio State in 1941, but left to go into the army
during World War II. Gillom enrolled at Nevada after his discharge in 1946 and joined
the Browns of the AAFC in ‘47, reuniting with Coach Brown. He backed up at end
on both offense and defense and made his biggest mark as a punter. Gillom‘s high,
booming kicks were noted for their hang time, and he lined up 15 yards behind
center, rather than the 10 to 12 that was typical during that era, thus further
helping the coverage unit. His average was 44.6 yards on 47 punts as a rookie
and he had his best seasons for pass receiving in 1948, with 20 catches for 295
yards (14.8 avg.) and a TD and 23 for 359 yards (15.6 avg.) in ’49, the AAFC’s
last year. In 1950, his first NFL season, Gillom punted 66 times for a
43.2-yard average.

1951 Season Summary

Appeared in all
12 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 73 [2,
tied with Joe Geri]

Yards – 3321 [1]

Average – 45.5
[1]

Punts blocked
– 0

Longest punt
– 66 yards

Pass
Receiving

Receptions – 11

Yards – 164

Yards per
catch – 14.9

TDs – 0

Kickoff
Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 25

Average per
return – 12.5

TDs – 0

Longest
return – 15 yards

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason:
1G (NFL Championship at LA Rams)

Punts – 4

Yards – 148

Average – 37.0

Longest punt
– 38 yards

Browns went 11-1
to finish first in the NFL American Conference. Lost NFL Championship to Los
Angeles Rams (24-17).

Aftermath:

Gillom led
the NFL in punting again in 1952, averaging 45.7 yards, when he was also chosen for the Pro Bowl. He spent a total of
ten seasons with the Browns, until being waived in 1956, and averaged 43.1
yards on 492 punts. Of that, 107 punts for a 40.5-yard average were in the AAFC
and 385 for a 43.8 average came in the NFL. He also caught a total of 74 passes
for 1003 yards (14.6 avg.) and three touchdowns (AAFC: 45 for 678 yards and a
TD, NFL: 29 for 405 yards and two scores).

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories: